September 2024 Member's Meeting
2024-09-05 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our September 2024 Members Meeting will be held at Darlington Cricket Club. Non-members are welcome to attend but will not be able to vote on items.
Papers for the meeting are available to download here:
2024-09-05 FSDR Meeting Agenda
2024-07-04 Minutes FInal
July Merged Meeting Reports
Trustee Reports
2024 – September Meeting Chair’s Activity Report
Editor & webmaster September 2024
Planning Report 24.09.05
Membership Report 31.08.2024
Area Group Reports
DIG Reports
DIG min Aug 2024
Railway skernebirdge condition members mtg Sept 2024
BIG EIWPC WASH
big wig
S&DR – Concept Design Presentation (DCC Condensed)
27thSept_Poster

Book Launch 27th September at Locomotion
2024-09-15 08:00 - 17:00
On behalf of Husqvarna and the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, we have pleasure in inviting you to the formal launch of our walk booklet covering Shildon to Heighington on the 27th September from 4.00pm until 6.30pm at Locomotion’s main hall in Shildon. There will be drinks and celebration cake and an opportunity to network, catch up with the latest news from the Friends and an amble amongst the collections. I do hope you will find time to attend on this busy day; the 199th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
For the purposes of catering, please let me know if you plan to attend at caroline@aenvironment.co.uk before the 18th September. If you miss this admittedly short deadline, let me know anyway and we will be pleased to make some adjustments to accommodate you.
Our walk booklets were first published in 2016, but are now being redesigned and updated in preparation for 2025. We have always seen these as an important part of the heritage led economic regeneration strategy that is the S&DR project, spreading the economic benefits of visitors to the area beyond the honeypot sites of Locomotion and Hopetown. They are an important part of the offer for 2025 and beyond and encourage people to get out and about by foot and by train and can be used to link to other heritage interest sites in the wider area such as the Auckland Project. So far, we have updated the books covering West Auckland to Shildon, The Shildon Circular and now this stretch between Shildon and Heighington. We will soon turn our attention to Darlington. Of course, the timetable is largely dictated by the progress of the new S&DR Discovery Trail.
This event is for members of the Friends of the S&DR only and our partners.
We are looking forward to seeing you.

EIWP Group GARDEN PARTY
2024-09-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Etherley Incline
‘Mary’s Place’
2 Hillside Cottages Low Etherley DL14 0EZ
Sunday 15th September 1pm—4pm
Refreshments plus
Optional walk along Etherley Incline
We welcome everyone to join us for this special occasion
Please contact John to confirm attendance – jraw2883@aol.com

October 2024 Member's Meeting
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our October 2024 Members Meeting will be held at Darlington Cricket Club. Non-members are welcome to attend but will not be able to vote on items.
Papers for the meeting are available for download below:
2024 – October Meeting Chair’s Activity Report
2024-09-05 Minutes
2024-10-03 FSDR Meeting Agenda
BIG-WASH-EIWPG Report
Editor & webmaster October 2024
Membership Report 26.09.2024
Planning Report 24.10.03
Report Sept24 HAG
SDR200 Research on the Rails competition
MSG Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary Organising Group Report to Friends 03.10.2024

2024 AGM
2024-11-09 09:30 - 13:00 | Darlington Baptist Church, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NH, United Kingdom
Our 2024 AGM will take place at Darlington Baptist Church, Grange Road Darlington on Saturday 9th November 2024. Please book using the link below to let us know how many are coming. (We don’t want to run out of coffee!)
Book Here
The papers for the meeting are below:
2024 AGM Agenda
FSDR Chairs Report 23-24
Membership Report 31.10.2024
Planning Report 24.11.9 AGM
Area Group Reports (Combined)
editor and web 2024
2023 AGM Minutes

Walking the line - Darlington 1st December
2024-12-01 11:00 - 13:30 | Hopetown
Continuing our programme to revise and update our self-guided walks booklets before 2025, our next Walking the Line event will be on the 1st December at 11am. We will meet at the foot of the steps up to the Goods Shed, Hopetown on the corner of McNay Street and North Road. This is immediately adjacent to North Road Station so why not arrive by train?
The purpose of this walk is to check the content of the revised walk book content and the new route before the redesign and printing.
You can download a copy of the working draft here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/et0xof6b9z881vjejnne2/ADw82P17qr5OCChJ310wMTs?rlkey=[REDACTED]&dl=0
This is an urban walk, not especially long (2.1 miles) but there will be a lot of stops which can be tiring. It will take at least two hours largely due to these interesting stops along the way. Allow for more.
We will end the walk at Hopetown where you can have refreshments and use the loos at the Clocktower Café after we have been around the outside of the buildings. You will be free to spend as much time as you like at Hopetown once we have finished the walk – entrance is free. Please book your own entrance ticket for about 1.15pm. You can do this here: https://tickets.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/#calendar
Dogs are welcome, but please note that while dogs are welcome in the café at Hopetown and throughout the grounds, they cannot go inside the museum or carriage works.
If you plan to join us on this walk, please send your name, email address, mobile phone number and next of kin’s phone number before the 1st December to caroline@aenvironment.co.uk. Your contact details are required so we can get in touch on the day if plans unexpectedly change and your next of kin’s number is in case you get run over trying to cross North Road. And don’t forget to book your entrance into Hopetown for about 1.15pm (I don’t think it will matter too much if we are a little late or early).
The updating and redesign of this booklet has been made possible by sponsorship from Husqvarna and Councillor Sonia Kane.
Caroline Hardie. M: 07773 195686. E: caroline@aenvironment.co.uk

December 2024 Member's Meeting and Christmas Social
2024-12-05 19:00 - 21:30 | The Railway Tavern, Darlington, High Northgate, Darlington, DL1 1UN, United Kingdom
Our December 2024 Members Meeting will be held at Darlington Railway Tavern. Non-members are welcome to attend but will not be able to vote on items.
The Papers for the meeting are available for download from the below links:
The Chair will be summarising the last year and a copy of his report will be posted after the meeting.
2024-12-05 Meeting Agenda
2024-10-03 Minutes
Planning Report 24.12.05
West End Reports 5th December
InclineWittonPark_Image&Text3
2024 AGM Minutes Final
Festival Launch Publicity Launch Stats Slide from AGM
Membership Report 30.11.2024

January 2025 Members Meeting
2025-01-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The Railway Tavern, Darlington, High Northgate, Darlington, DL1 1UN, United Kingdom
Our first meeting of 2025 will take place at the Railway Tavern, Darlington on Thursday 9th January at 7pm.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

February 2025 Member Meeting
2025-02-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our February Meeting will take place on Thursday 6th February 2025 at Darlington Cricket Club starting at 7pm.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Allens West Station to Eaglescliffe Station Railway Walk
2025-03-05 10:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
A linear walk from Allen’s West Station to Eaglescliffe Station via Preston park
Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am
Distance about 3.5 miles
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths with a short path across a grassed area.

March 2025 Members Meeting
2025-03-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our March 2025 members meeting will take place at Darlington Cricket Club at 7pm on Thursday 6th March 2025.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

First Miles of the S&DR
2025-03-12 10:30 | Outside the Former Methodist Chapel, Phoenix Row, Phoenix Row, Witton Park, DL14 0DF, United Kingdom
This walk will meet at Phoenix Row near the farthest western point of the line. Walking up the Etherley incline, you will get a flavour of the rural nature of the Early S&DR and the scale of the earthworks required to provide a straight route to Shildon.
The walk is 2.4 miles and involves some gradients and walking along footpaths. No stiles, dog friendly, approximately 4.2miles, sturdy footwear required.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Women of the Stockton & Darlington Railway
2025-03-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Stockton Central Library
The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened in 1825 and the world was never the same again. It is easy to get the impression that the people behind this pioneering phase of our history were all men. Where were the women? What were they doing? Can we find their names and write them back into history? Caroline Hardie attempts to shine a light on a few of the women who were part of the Railway that got the World on Track.
Free, Booking essential
This event is organised by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Book at your nearest library or visit the link below.
www.stockton.gov.uk/book-library-event

Free Guided Walk: Walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John's Crossing Stockton
2025-03-19 10:30 | Eaglescliffe Station
A linear Walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St John’s Crossing, Stockton via Preston Park
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Talk: The Quaker Dominance on the S&DR & the Mines & Villages of County Durham
2025-03-19 19:00 | Shildon Railway Institute, Shildon, DL4 2JJ, United Kingdom
It’s part of the significance of the S&DR to understand how it built a region. Our line, the S&DR, would never have existed as we know it without Tyneside engineering OR the business skill of Quakers. Their investment was existential to the 1825 line and to the 1830 Middlesbrough Estate, but then continued full speed under Sir Joseph Pease (1799-1872), whose companies are usually quoted as attaining 10,000 workers.
However, his story* is usually about Darlington, its grand houses and politics rather than the integrated business combine of railway extensions, new villages and mines in the Durham coalfield. The talk identifies his ten coal mines by 1869 with successive extensions of the S&DR rail companies, notably the 1858 route using more inclines to reach the Deerness valley at Esh Winning, one of the Quaker built villages where historians do find a better benevolent layout with schools etc.
*As in editions of the Northern Echo Memories and our Workshop at the Darlington Meeting House: https://sdr1825.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Quaker-Line-Alan-Townsend-Ed.pdf
This talk is given by Professor Alan Townsend, Vice Chair Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Emeritus Professor of Geography, Durham University.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2025-03-22 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-27 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free ticketed entry). If you would like us to book this for you, please indicate using the notes field on the registration form when registering attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Shildon Circular Walk
2025-03-26 10:30 | Locomotion, Shildon, Dale Road, Shildon, DL4 2RE, United Kingdom
Shildon Circular Walk taking in many of the historical sites of Shildon’s railway past, including Brusselton and it’s Georgian history.
Approximately 5.8miles Dog friendly
Some field walking, 5 stiles (good order), steady gradient
Calling at the former Wagonworks Canteen
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Gaunless Bridges Walk
2025-04-02 10:25 | Car Park in front of Well Cafe, 46 East Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HJ, United Kingdom
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

April 2025 Members Meeting
2025-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our April 2025 members meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd April at Darlington Cricket Club starting at 7pm.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Free Guided Walk: Walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John's Crossing
2025-04-09 10:30 - 13:30 | Eaglescliffe Station
A linear walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John’s Crossing & coal staithes, Stockton via Preston Park & Yarm Road curve.
Meet at Eaglescliffe Station for 10:30am.
Distance about 4 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2025-04-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free ticketed entry). If you would like us to book this for you, please indicate using the notes field on the registration form when registering attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free entry).
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: St Helen Auckland Railway Walk
2025-04-16 10:25 | St. Helen Auckland parish church, Manor Road, St. Helen Auckland, DL14 9ER, United Kingdom

Free Talk: The S&DR: Recovering the Timothy Hackworth Deficit
2025-04-16 19:00 | Shildon Railway Institute, Shildon, DL4 2JJ, United Kingdom
Hackworth’s engineering prowess and ingenuity brought the power needed to accomplish and underpin the ever-expanding enterprise that was the S&DR.
His contribution, talent and ingenuity played a vital part in the early days from 1827 to 1840; something that has been left standing neglected on the sidings. Time for a reckoning up; a recovery of the deficit that has left in the affairs of the S&DR.
Mike Norman’s background in IT was at the forefront of the technology of the Information Revolution, and he now draws on that experience in defining the pioneering key developments of the steam locomotive. He is the author of ‘It Wasn’t Rocket Science’ – a biography of the life and times of Timothy Hackworth which, set during preparations for the 1893 Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, is told through the eyes of a grandson.
Pre-booking is not required for this event.

Free Guided Walk: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2025-04-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Darlington Town Centre and the Quaker burial ground.
1.5 miles (2 km), 1 hour 30 Mins. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Very Easy.
In Darlington’s Quaker burial ground, many members of the Pease and Backhouse families are buried. These were the characters responsible for the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We will explore their stories of the origins and early years of the Railway. We will meet some of these characters, and some of their interesting and colourful family members.
All of the walk takes place within Darlington town centre. There is a particular focus on the Quaker Burial ground where there are benches to sit on.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: The Fighting Cocks Line
2025-04-21 11:15 - 14:30 | entrance to Middleton St George Play Park and Field ///validated.unwind.expert, Station Road, Middleton St George, DL2 1JD, United Kingdom
The Fighting Cocks Line
Middleton St George to Darlington
5.5 miles (8.5 km), 3 hours 15 mins Maximum group size 20. Mostly along off-road paths. Dogs on leads (this is a shared use route on the National Cycling Network). Moderate (level gradient but stamina required). Stout footwear recommended.
This walk follows the trackbed of an original section of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, looking at the development of railway infrastructure and the industries which grew up along the line.
The walk begins in Middleton St George village and ends at the Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction, next to North Road station in Darlington.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Yarm Branchline Circular Walk
2025-04-23 10:30 - 13:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
A circular walk along the original S&DR Yarm Branch Line from Allen’s West Station into Yarm, returning via Yarm Road & footbridge across the original Leeds Northern Line.
Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am.
Distance about 4 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Free Guided Walk: North Road Railway Station to Fighting Cocks Walk
2025-04-30 10:00 | North Road Station Entrance, Station Road, Darlington, DL3 6ST, United Kingdom
This 6 mile easy going walk will start outside North Road Station and finish at Fighting Cocks with a return by Train from Dinsdale Station to North Road Station. Dog Friendly

Free Guided Walk: St John's Crossing to Eaglescliffe Guided Walk
2025-04-30 10:30 - 13:30 | Stockton Town Hall, High Street, Stockton-On-Tees, TS20 1DR
A linear walk from St. John’s Crossing to Eaglescliffe Station via Site of 1830 S&DR Suspension Bridge & Preston Park.
Meet at Stockton Town Hall for 10:30am.
Distance about 3.5 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths with a short walk next to the River Tees under the A66 and 2 railway bridges.

May 2025 Members Meeting
2025-05-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
The May 2025 members meeting will take place at Darlington Cricket Club at 7pm on Thursday 1st May 2025.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.
